The Father Effect book - John Finch

THE FATHER EFFECT: Hope and Healing from a Dad's Absence by John Finch with Blake Atwood is a must-read for those who have lost their fathers...whether through divorce, death, or disinterest.

John Finch was only eleven years old when his father committed suicide. But it wasn't until he was a father of three girls that he began to realize that the loss of his father had such an impact on him. His relationship with his wife and daughters was strained when he knew that healing would have to begin with forgiving both himself and his father for choosing to leave in order to become the dad his children needed him to be.

I first met John on Facebook when he was making his short film, The Father Effect. Over the years, I have followed his posts and endeavors to make a feature-length film, and now the book. The iterviews he has shared, along with his own story, have been a compelling revelation of just how important a father is in a child's life. I had a close relationship with my own dad until after the death of my mom when I was in my twenties. we were beginning to heal our rift when he was killed in a car wreck. But, my children lost their dad through divorce when they were pre-schoolers & he stayed away from them physically & emotionally. I tried to be both parents, but, I simply could not be their dad.

The Father Effect is an eye-opening account of the just how important it is to find healing if you did not have a father in your life...to forgive and to lean on our perfect Father for the wholeness you need. If you are a father, try to mend the rift in the relationship with your child. John shares his own journey with an honesty that is insightful and hopeful. Stories shared by men and women who have experienced hurt from their fathers, as well as words of wisdom from professionals, give this book a balanced approach that speaks to people with words of hope. I highly recommend this book to everyone no matter what your relationship with your father. And, if you are a dad...this is a must-read! Everyone should know the importance and value of a father in the life of his child.

LINKS:
The Father Effect website
Buy on Amazon
Read the First Chapter Encouraging Dads website
The Father Effect movies
The Father Effect - Facebook
Follow @thefathereffect on Twitter
The Father Effect - YouTube
Blake Atwood website

Father's Day 2012

"Show me a man who refuses to compromise his belief in Jesus and will lead his work place and his home and I'll show you a real man."

~Pastor Andy Heis

For many years, the entertainment industry has often portrayed fathers as either a clueless man whom the wife and children mock and control, or as an indifferent parent...if he is present at all. The days of loving, nurturing, strong fathers such as Cliff Huxtable (The Cosby Show), Andy Taylor (The Andy Griffith Show), Atticus Finch (To Kill A Mockingbird), or even Marlin (Finding Nemo) seem long gone. I have observed a growing trend to turn the tide though, and I am one of many who applauds the efforts to redirect the importance of being a dad.  The tremendous success of  Courageous (now available on DVD/Blu-Ray) in 2011 proved that many others are in agreement. Watch this scene from Courageous: The Importance Of Family

Aren't these the films we need? I know that there are way too many kids who did not have the advantage of a nurturing dad, and I feel that society reflects that absence of a strong father. We have become a culture that is more influenced by television and films than ever before and it seems more important than ever to be aware of what our kids watch. Since some kids do not have a male role model in their lives, who do you want them to emulate? There are more than enough "my baby daddy" types who have the erroneous idea that a child is 'proof' of their manhood. I believe it is vital for us, and our children to  see men who love God, their wives, their children, & their communities.....even if it is in a movie. Boys need someone to emulate, and girls need to raise their expectations. I recently read a blog that highly impressed me and you may want to check out called Mocha Dad: 7 Traits Of Real Men.

But, my focus is on movies this time, so I have been looking ahead to see what other films are coming up that will have an emphasis on both faith and family, especially those with a strong positive image of a father. A few that are due to be released in 2012 include the three films listed below:

1. Beyond The Farthest Star: In BTFS, Todd Terry portrays Adam Wells...a man who has a troubled relationship with his daughter. We also learn of the relationship he had with his father. A father's impact on his child truly does leave a lasting and profound effect...but things don't have to remain the same from generation to generation.
A minister driven by the prospect of achieving greatness as the next nationally-syndicated TV Evangelist lays down his opportunity at “celebrity” and even his own life in order to become something even greater... A loving husband and father to his wife and daughter. (Pathlight Entertainment)


Stars: Todd Terry, Renee' O'Connor, Cherami Leigh
Writer/Director: Andrew Librizzi
Producers: Benjamin Dane, Sally Helppie



 
Cast Interview: Todd Terry from Beyond The Farthest Star on Vimeo.

2. Hardflip: The story of Caleb,a young skater whose ill mother and absent father leave him reaching for the only hope he has—becoming a sponsored skater. After finding a stack of old love letters, he sets out to find the father he never knew and inadvertently begins a journey he never could have expected. This story explores what happens when we let go of our anger and pain and forgive those who have hurt us most. (Skipstone Pictures)
Stars: Randy Wayne, Rosanna Arquette, John Schneider
Writer/Director/Producer: Johnny Remo
Writer: Daniel Backman
Watch the Hardflip  trailer:

 

 3. The Father Effect Movie: "Our prayer in making this film is to capture the critical and powerful impact of fathers in a documentary so compelling that it ignites intentional and purposeful actions by the men who watch it." This film is the true story of John Finch and his journey of growing up without a father, finding forgiveness, and how it changed his life. Learn more at The Perfect Father and watch the short film below:





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 So, go see these films, buy the dvds, help fund worthy projects, and PRAY for the people who are making movies that can make a difference. We truly are influenced by the films we choose to see, and our actions help shape our culture.

 “It is much easier to become a father than to be one.” ~ Kent Nerburn
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Real Men, Love the Lord.
Real Men, Pray.
Real Men, Read their Bible.
Real Men, Regularly go to Church.
Real Men, Live a Godly Example.
Real Men, Love their Wives.
Real Men, Spend Time and play with their Kids.
~ (Author Unknown)

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The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them.~ Proverbs 20:7